Council has to restructure

LABOUR has faced a challenging baptism in its first year of control of Sheffield City Council, which has seen a remote central government demand monumental cuts to the council budget.

Bearing in mind that the £55 million hacked from the budget comes on top of £80 million of cuts demanded of the previous, Lib Dem, administration, it is easy to see why the Labour group has appeared to be succumbing to deep despair at times since last May’s elections.

However, they have finally announced details of where the bulk of this year’s cuts are to be made and they are to be congratulated for pledging to preserve front-line services and to avoid passing on the pain to householders through increased council taxes.

But first reading of the fine details of where the axe will fall shows that the approach to economies does indeed call for the loss of people who are doing hands-on tasks.

The council ultimately must take a more pragmatic approach to its business and restructure its workforce accordingly to ensure it has the right management:staff ratio.

Let competitors enjoy our stadium

THE range of events planned at Don Valley Stadium are impressive and will ensure a steady stream of funds even after Rotherham United, who have played there since losing their Millmoor ground, move to their new stadium.

From rugby to Care Home Olympics, weddings to model car racing, boxing to indoor bowls, the stadium has them all.

However, what it is sorely lacking are the events for which it was built and for which it is manifestly well equipped to stage: athletics events.

The stadium may be used by Hallamshire Harriers and City of Sheffield Athletics Club for training and host a youth athletics academy scheme, but why is it ignored by organisers of the top athletics meeting on the national calendar? Surely competitors deserve to compete with the best facilities available. And Sheffield has these.

Starlight fun

GET your walking boots on, for once more we’re honoured to join St Luke’s Hospice to promote their Starlight Walk, on May 12. We helped launch the event last year when almost 1,000 people joined in to raise a thumping £65,000.

This year we are appealing to readers to once more take part... and raise even more for one of the region’s best loved charities. Almost every family has a link to its work, so we are confident people will take this appeal to heart.